Dispensing container

ABSTRACT

A dispensing container with a dispensing bin struck out from three foldably connected sidewalls. There is disclosed a twin dispenser using a pair of such bins and an integral upwardly projecting bin stay for frictionally inhibiting closure of an opened bin.

United States Patent Inventor Donald R. Bebout Stone Mountain, Ga. Appl. No. 792,956 Filed Jan. 22, 1969 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 Assignee The Mead Corporation Dayton, Ohio DISPENSING CONTAINER 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 229/17, 206/44, 221/305 Int. Cl 865d 5/72 Field ofSearch 229/ 17, 7, 16; 206/44; 221/305 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,645,771 10/1927 Pillsbury 229/17(B) 2,595,202 4/1952 Pardee 229/17(B) 2,684,792 7/1954 Kraus 229/17(B) Primary ExaminerDavid M. Bockenek Att0rneyJohn W. Donahue ABSTRACT: A dispensing container with a dispensing bin struck out from three foldably connected sidewalls. There is disclosed a twin dispenser using a pair of such bins and an integral upwardly projecting bin stay for frictionally inhibiting closure of an opened bin.

DISPENSING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the general field of dispensing containers and in particular to a class of dispensing containers which is suited for dispensing plastic pouches of condiments and the like. Such pouches have become quite popular in the restaurant business and there has arisen a need for a multipurpose container which is suitable for their shipment, display, and dispensing.

Summary of the Invention This invention provides a container which is suitable for shipment of vertical stacks of filled plastic pouches, and which dispenses such pouches by squeezing in and swinging open a dispensing bin struck out from three sides of the container. In preferred embodiment the dispensing feature is duplicated for dual dispensing of two separate stacks of pouches. The preferred embodiment is further provided with a cooperating telescopic sleeve for improved structural integrity, and integral upwardly projecting bin stays for frictionally inhibiting closure of an opened dispensing bin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a blank for setting up the preferred embodiment of the inventive container.

FIG. 2 shows the blank of FIG. 1 in partially erected condition.

FIG. 3 shows the blank of FIG. 1 in fully erected condition as viewed from the top.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the inventive container.

FIG. 5 is a blank for an alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dispensing container using the blank of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a blank for another alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dispensing container using the blank of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a illustration in enlarged perspective of the operation of a bin stay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment of this invention is set up from a blank 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Blank 10 is divided by fold lines 24, 25, 26, and 27 and face panel fold lines 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d into a first divider panel 16, a first partial side panel 14, a first face panel 12, a full side panel 11, a second face panel 13, a second partial side panel 15, a second divider panel 17 a bottom panel 18, bottom flaps 19, 19, and a tucking flap 20. First and second bin panels 210 and 21b are struck from first and second face panels 12 and 13 respectively, and wing flaps 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are struck from the side panels as illustrated. Bin panels 21a and 21b are attached to their respective face panels by bin panel fold lines 340 and 34b and wing flaps 22a through 22d are attached their respective bin panels by fold lines 28 a through 28d which are aligned respectively with face panel fold lines 23a through 23d. Locking tabs 29, 29 are struck from full side panel 11 and attached thereto along fold lines 30, 30. Tucking flap slot 33 is provided for locking engagement with divider panel slots 31 and 32 as can be seen in FIG. 2 wherein blank 10 is shown in partially erected condition.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3 which shows a top view of the fully erected blank, locking tabs 29, 29 are folded downwardly for locking engagement of first and second divider panels 16 and 17.

A perspective view of the preferred container 40 is shown in FIG. 4 wherein a telescopic sleeve 50 has been slid over a blank which has been made and set up as previously described. The sleeve is of conventional well known construction and is preferably closed in at the top. As used in ordinary merchandising, sleeve 51) should be of sufficient height for complete vertical enclosure of container at) and should be printed with attractive display information.

In addition to its display function, sleeve 50 functions to maintain partial side panels 14 and 15 in coplanar juxtaposed relationship and serves as an outer shipping container. When container 40 is ready to serve as a dispenser, telescopic sleeve 50 is slid upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4, thereby exposing first and second dispensing bins 35a and 35b. Bins 35a and35b are then opened by inwardly squeezing wing flaps 22a through 22d and then pulling the bins downwardly to the positions shown in FIG. 4. In that position wing flaps 22a through 22d are in abutment against corresponding face panels thereby preventing further opening of bins 35a and 35b. A dual dispensing capability is thus provided, and, if desired, pouches of different commodities such as mustard and catsup may be stacked on each side.

An important feature of the preferred container 40 is the set of bin stays 45a through 45d which functions to inhibit closure of the opened bins. Each stay is created at a face panel fold line by employing a pair of downwardly extending cuts to define the associated bin panel and wing fiap. The resulting bin stay is a two-sided and upwardly extending angular projection.

As each dispensing bin is rotated downwardly about its bin panel fold line, the downwardly extending lower edges of its wing flaps interfere with the upwardlyextending bin stays. Thus bin opening is accompanied by resilient distortion of the bin stay upper edges and the wing flaps lower edges. Thereafter static friction at these locations'inhibits the natural closure tendency of the bins. The operation of one of the bin stays is shown in enlarged partial perspective in FIG. 9.

A blank for an alternative embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a single bin panel 121 and associated wing flaps 122a and I22b are struck out respectively from face panel 112 and first and second side panels 114 and 111. In like manner as the preferred embodiment, wing flaps fold lines 128a and 128b are respectively aligned with face panel fold lines 123a and 123b. Rear panel 116 is attached to first side panel 114 along fold line 1241 and glue flap 117 is attached to second side panel 111 along fold line 125. Bottom panel 118, bottom flaps 119, 119 and tucking flap 120 are defined by fold lines 126 and 127. After erection and gluing, blank 110 is inserted into a telescopic sleeve 150 and set up as shown in FIG. 6. The completed container is provided with bin stays a and 14512 which operate like bin stays 45a and 45b of the preferred container 40.

Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein a blank 210 is set up to form container 240. Blank 210 is divided by fold lines 226 and 236 and face panel fold lines 223a, 223b, 2230 and 223d into full side panel 211, first face panel 212, second face panel 213, first partial side panel 214, second partial side panel 215, bottom panel 218, top panel 237, bottom flaps 219, 219, 219 and top flaps 238, 238, 233, 238. First and second bin panels 221a and 221b are struck respectively from first and second face panels 212 and 213 and attached thereto along bin panel fold lines 234a and 2114b. Wing flaps 222a through 222d are struck from the three side panels as illustrated and are attached to their respective bin panels along wing flap fold lines 228a through 228d. The wing flap fold lines are aligned with corresponding face panel fold lines to define first and second dispensing bins 235a and 235 I). First and second partial side panels 214 and 215 overlap slightly and are maintained in juxtaposition by staples 39 or other like means. Container 240 is not provided with a tele scopic sleeve and therefore it is not desirable that the lines defining the bin panels and wing flaps be clean cuts. Instead it is desirable that the defining lines be only perforated for protection of the contents during shipment. The user than breaks the perforations, squeezes the wing flaps inwardly and pulls the bins downwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 8. Since this embodiment is not provided with integral bin stays, the contents mustrelied upon to maintain the dispensing bins in fully opened condition.

I claim:

1. A tubular style dispensing container of rectangular cross section comprising:

a face panel;

a first side panel joined along a face panel fold line to one side of the face panel;

a second side panel joined along a face panel fold line to the other side of the face panel;

a rear panel foldably joined to the rear of one of said panels;

means maintaining the rear panel in juxtaposition with the other of said side panels.

a bottom panel foldably joined to one of aforesaid panels and secured in place; and

a dispensing bin comprising a bin panel attached along a bin panel fold line to the face panel and struck out therefrom, a first wing flap struck out from the first side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along one side thereof, and a second wing flap struck out from the second side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along the other side thereof;

the fold lines joining the wing flaps to the bin panels each being aligned with a face panel fold line; and at least one wing fiap being of sufficient length for abutting engagement against the face panel when said wing flap has been inwardly squeezed and the bin partially opened.

2. A dispensing container according to claim 1; said means maintaining the rear panel in juxtaposition with a side panel comprising a slidable telescopic sleeve fitted over the container.

3. A dispensing container according to claim 1; the lines defining the wing flap lower edges running upwardly to the face panel fold lines and thence downwardly on the face panel to the bin panel fold line thereby defining downwardly extending wing flaps and an upwardly projecting bin stay at each side of the face panel whereby, upon opening the bin as aforesaid, said bin stays frictionally engage the wing flap lower edges and inhibit bin closure.

4. A dispensing container of folded blank construction comprising:

a full side panel;

a first face panel joined along a face panel fold line to one edge of the full side panel;

a second face panel joined along a face panel fold line to the other edge of the full side panel;

a first partial side panel parallel to the full side panel and joined along a face panel fold line to the first face panel;

a second partial side panel coplanar with the first partial side panel and joined along a face panel fold line to the second face panel;

a bottom panel foldably joined to one of aforesaid panels and secured in place;

means maintaining the two partial side panels in juxtaposition;

a first dispensing bin comprising a bin panel joined along a bin panel fold line to the first face panel and struck out therefrom, a wing flap struck out from the full side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along one side thereof, and a wing flap struck out from the first partial side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along the other side thereof; and a second dispensing bin comprising a bin panel joined along a bin panel fold line to the second face panel and struck out therefrom, a wing flap struck out from the full side panel and foldably attached to last said bin panel along one side thereof, and a wing flap struck out from the second partial side panel and foldably attached to last said bin panel along the other side thereof; the lines of foldable attachment between the bin panels and wing flaps each being aligned with a corresponding face panel fold line; and at least one wing flap on each dispensing bin being of sufficient length for abutting engagement against a corresponding face panel when said wing flap has been inwardlz squeeze d and thebin partially opened.

5. dispensing container according to claim 4 and further comprising a first divider panel foldably attached to the first partial side panel and extending inwardly to divide the container into two vertically extending compartments, each supplying one of said dispensing bins.

6. A dispensing container according to claim 5 and further comprising an inwardly extending second divider panel foldably attached to the second partial side panel and in face to face relationship with the first divider panel.

7. A dispensing container according to claim 6 and further comprising a pair of locking tabs struck out from the full side panel and inwardly folded to maintain the divider panels in fixed position.

8. A dispensing container according to claim 5; said means maintaining the two partial side panels in juxtaposition comprising a slidable telescopic sleeve fitted over the container.

9. A dispensing container according to claim 4; the lines defining all wing flap lower edges running upwardly to respective face panel fold lines and thence downwardly on respective face panels to respective bin panel fold lines thereby defining downwardly extending wing flaps and an upwardly projecting bin stay at each side of each face panel whereby, upon opening the bins as aforesaid, said bin stays frictionally engage respective wing flap lower edges and inhibit closure of respective bins.

10. In a bin style dispensing container comprising a face panel, a side panel perpendicularly attached to the face panel along a face panel fold line, a bin panel attached to the face panel along a bin panel fold line and a wing flap foldably attached to the bin panel along a wing flap fo.-d line; the improvement wherein the bin panel is struck from the face panel, the wing flap is struck from the side panel, the wing flap fold line is aligned with the face panel fold line, and the line defining the wing flap lower edge runs upwardly on the side panel to the face panel fold line and then continues downwardly on the face panel to the bin panel fold line thereby defining a downwardly extending wing flap and a two-sided upwardly projecting bin stay for closure-inhibiting frictional engagement of the wing flap lower edge. 

1. A tubular style dispensing container of rectangular cross section comprising: a face panel; a first side panel joined along a face panel fold line to one side of the face panel; a second side panel joined along a face panel fold line to the other side of the face panel; a rear panel foldably joined to the rear of one of said panels; means maintaining the rear panel in juxtaposition with the other of said side panels. a bottom panel foldably joined to one of aforesaid panels and secured in place; and a dispensing bin comprising a bin panel attached along a bin panel fold line to the face panel and struck out therefrom, a first wing flap struck out from the first side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along one side thereof, and a second wing flap struck out from the second side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along the other side thereof; the fold lines joining the wing flaps to the bin panels each being aligned with a face panel fold line; and at least one wing flap being of sufficient length for abutting engagement against the face panel when said wing flap has been inwardly squeezed and the bin partially opened.
 2. A dispensing container according to claim 1; said means maintaining the rear panel in juxtaposition with a side panel comprising a slidable telescopic sleeve fitted over the container.
 3. A dispensing container according to claim 1; the lines defining the wing flap lower edges running upwardly to the face panel fold lines and thence downwardly on the face panel to the bin panel fold line thereby defining downwardly extending wing flaps and an upwardly projecting bin stay at each side of the face panel whereby, upon opening the bin as aforesaid, said bin stays frictionally engage the wing flap lower edges and inhibit bin closure.
 4. A dispensing container of folded blank construction comprising: a full side panel; a first face panel joined along a face panel fold line to one edge of the full side panel; a second face panel joined along a face panel fold line to the other edge of the full side panel; a first partial side panel parallel to the full side panel and joined along a face panel fold line to the first face panel; a second partial side panel coplanar with the first partial side panel and joined along a face panel fold line to the second face panel; a bottom panel foldably joined to one of aforesaid panels and secured in place; means maintaining the two partial side panels in juxtaposition; a first dispensing bin comprising a bin panel joined along a bin panel fold line to the first face panel and struck out therefrom, a wing flap struck out from the full side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along one side thereof, and a wing flap struck out from the first partial side panel and foldably attached to the bin panel along the other side thereof; and a second dispensing bin comprising a bin panEl joined along a bin panel fold line to the second face panel and struck out therefrom, a wing flap struck out from the full side panel and foldably attached to last said bin panel along one side thereof, and a wing flap struck out from the second partial side panel and foldably attached to last said bin panel along the other side thereof; the lines of foldable attachment between the bin panels and wing flaps each being aligned with a corresponding face panel fold line; and at least one wing flap on each dispensing bin being of sufficient length for abutting engagement against a corresponding face panel when said wing flap has been inwardly squeezed and the bin partially opened.
 5. A dispensing container according to claim 4 and further comprising a first divider panel foldably attached to the first partial side panel and extending inwardly to divide the container into two vertically extending compartments, each supplying one of said dispensing bins.
 6. A dispensing container according to claim 5 and further comprising an inwardly extending second divider panel foldably attached to the second partial side panel and in face to face relationship with the first divider panel.
 7. A dispensing container according to claim 6 and further comprising a pair of locking tabs struck out from the full side panel and inwardly folded to maintain the divider panels in fixed position.
 8. A dispensing container according to claim 5; said means maintaining the two partial side panels in juxtaposition comprising a slidable telescopic sleeve fitted over the container.
 9. A dispensing container according to claim 4; the lines defining all wing flap lower edges running upwardly to respective face panel fold lines and thence downwardly on respective face panels to respective bin panel fold lines thereby defining downwardly extending wing flaps and an upwardly projecting bin stay at each side of each face panel whereby, upon opening the bins as aforesaid, said bin stays frictionally engage respective wing flap lower edges and inhibit closure of respective bins.
 10. In a bin style dispensing container comprising a face panel, a side panel perpendicularly attached to the face panel along a face panel fold line, a bin panel attached to the face panel along a bin panel fold line and a wing flap foldably attached to the bin panel along a wing flap fold line; the improvement wherein the bin panel is struck from the face panel, the wing flap is struck from the side panel, the wing flap fold line is aligned with the face panel fold line, and the line defining the wing flap lower edge runs upwardly on the side panel to the face panel fold line and then continues downwardly on the face panel to the bin panel fold line thereby defining a downwardly extending wing flap and a two-sided upwardly projecting bin stay for closure-inhibiting frictional engagement of the wing flap lower edge. 